Car-drag officers in line for award

TWO hero policemen have been nominated for bravery awards after they risked their lives to catch a drug-crazed robber. Constables Steve Phillips and Stephen Matthias hung on to the doors of a speeding getaway car and were dragged along for 20 yards.

TWO hero policemen have been nominated for bravery awards after they risked their lives to catch a drug-crazed robber.

Constables Steve Phillips and Stephen Matthias hung on to the doors of a speeding getaway car and were dragged along for 20 yards until it crashed.

The pair grappled with knife-wielding Lee Brown, 25, who had an £800-a-day crack-cocaine and heroin habit, after he hijacked a taxi following a raid on a Threshers off-licence in Sale Moor on September 22.

Their efforts ended with Brown, of Shadowmoss Road, Wythenshawe, being jailed for nine years at Minshull Street Crown Court after admitting five off-licence raids and aggravated vehicle taking.

A further 58 offences of robbery, burglary and theft were taken into consideration.

He was also on licence from a two-year dangerous driving jail sentence at the time of his crime spree.

Now the officers, based at Altrincham police station, have been recommended for a commendation by the chief constable.

Taxi

Their immediate boss, Inspector Alan Weardon, said: "It's part of their normal duty but they were extremely brave in the way they approached the situation and arrested him in difficult circumstances."

Pc Phillips, 26, from Stockport, said: "We were on foot patrol walking towards Threshers. He ran out with a knife and ran across the road.

"Someone from the shop came out to say they'd just been robbed and we chased him to the car park where he had a taxi waiting.

"He got into the passenger side but once the driver saw what was going on he got out. Brown climbed into the driver's seat.

"I grabbed him and I was half in the car and half out of it. Stephen got him from the other side.

"He just floored the car across the car park and crashed into a parked car. He must have been going 20 or 30mph. We just ran along side the car. He wrote both cars off. Stephen dragged him out and put the 'cuffs on him."

Pc Matthias, 25, from Chester, said: "It didn't really scare me at the time. You don't think about things like that in the heat of the moment. It wasn't until afterwards you realise he had a big knife on him."